Maurice Farman 699/305 ???

15 January 2006, 04:18 PM

I recently acquired a postcard of the wreckage of MF 699. Can anyone help me with details of the action and the posible victor. There also seems to be what looks like a /305 on the rudder if that helps. Thanks again.

gilles · 25 January 2006, 08:06 AM

Hello

According to the "escadrilles 1912-1920" book, MF 699 belonged to esc.44 in june 1915. The s/n included in this book are sometimes those of lost aircraft (the s/n were recorded in the archives).
Maybe there is a chance that MF699 was the aircraft of Adj Jean Sismanoglou and observer Slt Eugene Rivolet killed june 15, 1915.
In one of his book, Jacques Mortane says that Sismanoglou was killed by a shell. In the "morts pour la France" database, he is just KIA, but Virolet is listed as killed in accident and crashed behind german lines (at Essey near Pont-à-Mousson, Metz area).
As Sismanoglou was an early aviator (brevet #336), maybe there are more infos on his death (Didier Lecoq are you here?)

gilles

25 January 2006, 11:17 AM

Thank you Gilles. I was pretty sure from the looks of the wreckage that the crew did not survive.

Old Man · 25 January 2006, 11:30 AM

I would take it as a great favor if you could scan and post the image of this machine, or send a copy of it to me. I have been contemplating attempting a model of a Farman 11 of the Aviation Militaire, but I like to have a photograph of any machine I build, and information about its assigned unit at some particular time. I have so far had no luck finding photographs that show the serial, and where the escadrille is known. It would be very helpful to have this one.

Didier Lecoq · 25 January 2006, 03:10 PM

Bonsoir,
L'historique of BR 44 says :
"15 June, accompanied by second lieutenant Virolet, adjudant Sismanoglou carries out an artillery adjustment when MF 40 is attacked by an enemy hunter. The combat turning to the advantage of the French, the German does not insist. The crew continues it: he wants to obtain a victory which would be the first for the squadron. But a shell of DCA cuts down MF 40 in the enemy lines. The squadron is in mourning: it has just lost its first crew, one of the most confirmed."
à bientôt
Didier

25 January 2006, 03:53 PM

WOW Didier !!! Thanks. This Forum is incredible !

Rick · 25 January 2006, 03:58 PM

Despite being killed by friendly shell fire, they were apparently claimed (and confirmed) to the FFA 3b crew of Ltn. Ernst Schlemmer(P) and Oblt. Jakob Baer(O). At least they claimed a Farman downed in the vicinity of Toul. R.